The NISE Network is a national community of researchers and informal science educators dedicated to fostering public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Nisenet.org is an online digital library of public nano educational products and tools designed for educators and scientists.

The new 2015 NanoDays digital kit materials are available for download!
Getting a digital kit is easy - you don't need to fill out an application or log in to download a digital kit.

Digital kits are free, downloadable materials available to anyone. The digital version of the kit is designed particularly for international locations outside the United States, K-12 educators, libraries, and other educational organizations. Many of the activities use inexpensive, readily available supplies.

These short videos are perfect for NanoDays 2015 staff and volunteer training. Please feel free to distribute these links to people volunteering at your NanoDays event. All of these videos may be downloaded from Vimeo simply by creating a free "basic" account at www.vimeo.com/join, for more assistance please see FAQ # 10.

NanoDays promotional and marketing materials include a sample press release you can customize for your institution, promotional 30-second video, logos, clip art, and photos (these were included in your physical kit). We’ve also included icons if you want to put a link on your website to the public audience website: www.whatisnano.org. More information and resources are available here:

How do you get a science center, technology museum, a national science network, a public library system, a 3D printing service and marketplace, a camera company, and a university research center to work together—you just have to pick up the phone and talk about nanotechnology.

Featured Products

The NISE Network Report to Partners provides an overview of the major activities of the Network and highlights our collective accomplishments related to building collaborations, engaging the public, and increasing the capacity of the field. It also looks ahead to sustaining the Network beyond 2015.

A welcome letter (with materials list) and the planning and marketing guide included in the NanoDays physical kit to assist with planning and promoting your NanoDays event. Also includes a link to the Guide to Building Parnerships Between Museums and University-Based Research Centers and a document outlining Strategies for Engaging Bilingual Audiences in your NanoDays event

We've put together resources to help you promote your NanoDays event and other nano educational activities. A collection of NISE Net press photos can also be found in the Media - Promotional Materials section of the nisenet.org website. For questions regarding usage of the NanoDays logo or other marketing materials, please send an email to nanodays@nisenet.org.

This workshop on scientific journalism and interviewing skills was prepared and given by a team of scientists, educators and editorial staff at the Materials Research Society. The workshop is designed as a full-day, with a post-workshop assignment and individual follow-up by the instructional staff. The instructional design is modifiable so that this can be taught as two independent half-day workshops. Ideal participant size is 15.

“Nano sand” is a product that was originally invented to help clean up oil spills in water. Since the “nano sand” is hydrophobic, it does not let water molecules pass through. It does, however, let oil molecules pass through. When oil-contaminated water is exposed to “magic sand”, the oil passes through and leaves clean water behind. And when “magic sand” is sprinkled on top of oil spills, the sand binds with the oil and creates oil- filled sand clumps that fall to the bottom of an ocean or lake.

This series of museum labels are designed for general use in your museum or institution to highlight existing connections to nanoscale science, engineering, or technology. NISE Net partners are already coming up with creative ways to use these labels to showcase nano. For example, you can make a scavenger hunt or special tour to encourage visitors to find all the connections! Additional templates (.doc and .indd) are also provided so that you can create your own signage and content.

"Exploring Fabrication - Gummy Capsules" lets visitors make self-assembled polymer spheres. They learn that self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures, and that self-assembly is used to make nanocapsules that can deliver medication.